Can opener of the nipper type having an adjusting head



March 13, 1928.

' A. c. SCHAEFER CAN OPENER OF THE NIPPER TYPE HAVING AN ADJUSTING HEAD Filed Nov. 9. 1926 Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

unrrsn STATES AUGUST C. SGHAEFER, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

CAN OPENER OF THE NIPPER TYPE HAVING AN-ADJUSTING HEAD.

Application filed November a, 1926. Serial No. 147,256.

My present application for patent relates to my pending application in the United States yatent Otlice. filed June 11. 1925, Serial Number 36,42 2 for a can opener of the nipper type, and the primary object of my present device is the same as that in my pending application. I

A further object of my present invention consists in having an adjusting or compensating head oppositely disposed to that of the shearing blade.

it. further object of my invention consists in providing a can opener adapted to the opening of cans having a rim or ledge dis posed about the outer upper periphery of the can head, adjacent to the head of the can to be removed by my new and improveddevice.

A further object of my invention consists in providing suit-able mechanism for the opening of cans that will leave the can smooth on the inside after the head has been removed.

A still further object of my invention consists in providing an adjusting or compensating head that will facilitate the rotation of the can relative to the opener during the shearing of the head therefrom.

\Vith these and incidental objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forthin the appended claims and a preferred form of embodiment ofwhich is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the assembled device.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the mechanism illustrated. in Figs. land 2.

Fig. {i is a fragmentary side elevation of the head end of my new and improved de-' vice in position upon the can but before the application of shearing pressure has been applied to the head.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4, but illustrating the same after the shearing pressure has been applied and the shearing head has been passed through the head of the can to be removed.

Fig. 6 is a preferred embodiment of my device having a modified form of the com pensating head as applied thereto.

Fig. 7 is a cross section view taken on line 77 of Fig. ,6, looking in the direction indicated. p

. Fig. 8 is a front, end elevation; of my new and improved device assembled, and in place, upon a can illustrating its-application in the final shearing action as applied to the head of the can, illustrating the angle that the head of the can takes during the final shearing action of the same. I

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

I make my new and improved device of two handle members 1 and 2, hinged together about a journal 3. Disposed between the ends of the handles I place a compressible element 4-, and place on the inner surface of each of the handle members a locating lug 5, for maintaining the compressihis element in placement. I place a shearing head 6, upon the outer end of one of the handle members and maintain the same in place thereupon by any suit-able means as by peening over a portion of the handle member as shown at 7. I shape the shearing end of the cutter head so that the initial penetratingpoint 8 of the shearing head will be substantially disposed opposite to the'central line disposed between the bandle members as illustrated in Fig. 2. I form a slot 9 in the shearing head for passing a portion of the compensating or ad justing head 10 as shown at 11 therethrough to limit the movement of the handle members caused by the compressible element 4. I have observed that in the use of devices of this kind there is a tendency of the device to partially tilt or rock longitudinally of the can when the shearing pressure is applied and to overcome this tendency and to correct the same, 'I have made the head disposed upon the outer end of the lower jaw partially rotatable about the pin 11. This also maintains the shearing blade in close proximity to the inner wall of the canand leaves the inside of the can, when the head has been removed in a smoother condition. Since the head herein referred to is permitted to partially rotate about the pin 11 when the shearing pressure is applied instead of the device being partially tilted longitudinally of the can the compensation is taken up in the head and the same at once engages with the underside of the outer band disposed circumt'erentially of the head and the head is then rotated about the pin 11. The reverse of this action also occurs when the shearing otthe head has been completed and it becomes necessary to remove the device from the an. The under side of the projection 11 engages with the top of the can and limits the movement of the device. The head 10 is maintained in its relationship with the handle member .1 by beinp journalcd about the pin 11. about which the head 10 is permitted to have a partial and limited rotation the object. oi. which is to permit of an easy passage of the device about the head of the can when in use. The head it) has two projections l2 and 1:) formed at either side of the same and permitsv of two contacts with the outer periphery of the can wall. Where but. one projection 11 is provided upon the head it). in certain maker: of cans or under certain operating; conditions I have found there is a tendency of the device in the hand of the operator or user of the same. To prevent this tendency ll lave found best results obtain wherein two lugs 11 are used instead of one; one of which is disposed at either side of the central. shearing head then when the two projections 11 contact with the upper outer periphery of the can structure, the same will maintain the device in equilibrium during the operation of removing the head from the can. The operation of my new and improved device leaves the inner edge it of the can in intimate contact with the side wall of the can and as the head 15 is tilted at an angle as illustrated in Fig. 8, and finally sheared otl' thus completing the operation.

\Vhile the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one term of embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follows.

\Vhat I claim is:-

1. In a device of the class described. the combination of nipper jaws normally .-p arated by sprin; means. a cutter head .-ccured to the outer end of: the upper jaw, the penetrating point of which is normally disposed opposite oi the center line of the jaw member. a slot formed in the cutter head. an adjusting head movably disposed on the outer end of the lower jaw. a projection formed on the forward end of the adjusting." head and projectin c through the riot formed in the cutter head and adapted to engage with the upper edge ot the can.

2. In a device of the class described. thc combination of nipper jaws normally ep arated by spring means. a cutting element associated with the outer end of the upper jaw. the penetrating point of the cutter elcmeut disposed substantially on the center line of the jaw meml'iers, a slot disposed in the cutter element a compensatin; head disposed on the outer end oi the lower jaw. adapted to engage with the wall of th can and to limit the movement ot' the jaw members by a lug of the sam cowering the slot disposed in the cutter clenn-nt.

3. in a device of the class tlc.-'c1il ed. the combination of nipper jaws normally rel)- aratcd by sprinc means, a shearing head disposed upon the outer end of the upper jaw, a compensatin; head 'lulcrnmed to the outer end of the lower jaw aml a iirojection formed on the 11 ad of the lower jaw which extends through the shearin; head and forms means for engagement; with the can and the shearing head to limit the movement. of the jaw elements.

AUGUST C. StlI-IAIQFICR. 

